Locomotive ash pan



-2 1942- y A. G. sALl-zulus 2,274,001-

Y LOCOMOTIVE ASH PAN Filed April 24, 1941 s Sheets-Shani W1 TNES:INVENTORQ- 4 ,a naermmmfaunn s'azmm; W B WW ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1942.

A. G. G. SALENIUS Filed April 24, 1941 NNNNBN A 'J'TORNEYS.

Feb- 24,, 9. .2- A; G. G. SALENIUS LOGOMOTIVE ASH PAN Filed April 24,1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 aim,

F[G 4L v. INVENTOR flndersfiasiafbnnarjale BY desirable or expedient.

Patented Feb. 24-, t 1942 assignor to The PennsylvaniaRailroad Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvahia i Application April 24,1941, Serial No. 390,032

7 Claims. (Cl. 110-167) This invention has reference initsbroaderaspects to receptacles or pans. commonly located.

below fire-grates for. thecollection .of ashes to be periodicallydischargedor. dumped,.whenever Receptacles. or ash pans of the referredto species customarily include one ormore hoppers each havinganindividualslidable, or a swingingdoor, the latter sometimes supportedoff-centerto obtain .a-wedging effect .on its seat when closed, and;associated. means whereby said .door ordoors areindependently orcollectively operablefordischarge of the. collected ashes. Thepresentinvention,hastmore particular reference to locomotive ash pans.of the type wherein.therseveralhoppers have pivoteducurved sectiondoors for individual ormultiple actuation. Such means have provengenerally satisfactory excepting that in order to prevent the doorscoming'too closejto the rails,.under certain conditions,zwhen. they, areopened, it has been found necessary to reduce the depth of the hopperswhich, disadvantageously,v affects the capacity of the ash-pan, withresultant more frequent necessity, for, and. often inconvenient, dumpingof the contents.

The primary aimcf the present improvements is to overcome the abovenoteddisadvantage by arranging the hopper closure :door so, that itoperates within restricted limits; or, in other Words, by mounting thedoor so that, its axis for pivotal movement is above the curved seatingsurface, and locating said surface as low as possible so that the doormay operate, at all. times, in, close proximity to the minimum,permissible, track clearance level. l

Another aim .of' this invention is to pivot, the hopper curved doorin anovel manner, so that as it approaches the fully closed position it iseccentrically forced upwards, or jammed, against the hopper seat, withprovision of asubstantially leak-proof joint or seal. 7 I

A further aim is to.- furnish a locomotiveashpan and dischargehoppers,xof the largest possible capacity, with curved-section closuredoors for said hoppers, so constructed and coordinated for operation asto ei'fectively maintaimat all times, the necessary clearance imposed byother parts of the locomotive and the track.

While the foregoing definitions are indicative, in a general way, oftheaims of this invention, other objects, with, ancillary advantages,will be evident to'those1skil1ed-in: the art upon a full understandingof the. construction, arrangement and operation of themeans hereinafterdisclosed but itnwill. alsozbesappreciated that said ash pan is rendereddetachable when necessary.

invention is. susceptible of other embodiments, or structurally modifiedfor-ms, coming equally within the terms of the concluding; claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a part sectional and part sideelevation of the lower portion of a locomotive fire-box and ash panembodying the presentimprovements.

Fig. 2 isv a plan section, taken; approximately as indicated by theangle arrows 11-11 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a part vertical sectionand'part elevation as viewedsubstantially on the staggered.

planeIII-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation as. Viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 1,or looking towards the right thereof.

Fig. 5' is a vertical cross-sectionon the staggered plane V--V in Fig. 1and,

Fig. 6 is a, fragmentary section taken cated by, the angle arrows VI,VIinFig, 1.

In describing the form of this inventionexemplified by the abovecaptioned drawings herewith, specific terms will be employed for thesake of clarity, but it is-to be understood :the scopewof.

said invention is notythereby limited; each such termbeing deemed toembrace all equivalents which perform the same "function foran analogous purpose. a Referringjto the drawings, the reference character 1designates the grate of a conventional type locomotive fire box, 8 thesupporting frame therefor, and 9 the mud ring Supported as by.

suitable hangers II], as well'as by mainframe I l, are the wing platesl2'which extend inwardly of 7 said beams for attachment, as by bolts l3,ofthe anglededges l4 of theaash' pan side plates I5.

The respective rear and front endtash pan-end wallsaredesignated I6, I!and they aresecured to the side plates 15 in any appropriate manner, forexample by angle sections [8; The side plates |5- are, preferably, eachformed in two parts connected together by bolts I9 and lap pieces 20 inan obvious manner, while it is to benoted the rear and front ashpanwa1lsl6, ll are also secured in position by bolts 2|, so that theEach side plate I5 is appropriately contoured along the lower edge andinwardly stepped at 22, Figs. 4 and 5, to define a rear and consecutiveforwardly spaced intermediate hoppers 23, 24 respectively, forapplication thereto of the door frames 25. Each door frame 25, itwillberemarked, preferably. embodies spaced .rear and front inwardlyinclined walls;26 with: polygonal shaped attaching sidewalls '21, thelower edges as indiof the latter walls extending below the level of theformer walls and being curved to provide a circular seat 28, in verticalsection longitudinally of the ash pan. The bottom plates 29 of the ashpan, intervening the respective hoppers 23, 24 are extended down betweenthe frame side walls 21 and are suitably attached to the frame rear andfront walls 26. The axis of curvature for the circular seat 28 is apoint centrally and vertically above said seat, as conventionallyindicated at c in Fig. 3 for a purpose hereafter explained.

The respective hopper doors 30 are of a complemental curvature invertical section, to that of the seat 28, and they are provided withapertured lugs 3| to which the lower ends of supporting links 32 areattached by hinge pins 33, said links being in turn sustained bylaterally projecting studs 34 fulcrumed in notches 35 of bearingelements 36 forwardly projecting from laterally directed brackets 31,integral with or rigidly secured to the hopper frameside walls 21. It isto be noted the curvature centers of the stud bearing notches 35 arelocated offset or forwardly relative to the centers and, preferably,horizontally co-planar with the latter. This arrangement for supportingthe doors 3!] positively ensures said doors being forced, at the time offinal closure, up against the seats 28 with an, obviously, efiectiveseal thereat; while the foremost door lugs 3| project downwards with theassociated supporting links operating through slots 38 in the door 30,whereas the remaining lugs 3| on the other doors 30 project upwardly forreasons hereafter explained.

The several doors 30 are each provided with a pair of rearwardlypositioned upstanding lugs 39 fitted with axis pins 40, and in orderthat each consecutive pair of said doors may be simultaneously openedand closed, connecting links 4| have their forward ends pivoted on thepins 40, with the rear ends of said links similarly attached at 42 tothe upper parts of rocker members 43 associated with the rearwardlyrelated doors 30, said members in turn having their lower ends pivotedto the axis pins 40 of the second mentioned doors, as clearlyunderstandable from Figs. 1 and 3 more particularly, so that the doors30 of the hopper 23 and the forwardly adjacent hopper 24 are operativelycoordinated, and the doors 30 of the foremost pair of hoppers 24 arecorrespondingly coupled together, reading from the left towards theright-hand of Figs. 1-3.

The consecutively coupled pairs of doors 33 are under operative controlof equalizer rods, the respective forward components 44, 45 whereof arefulcrumed at 45 to the aforesaid rocker members 43 intermediate the axispins 40 and the rear pivots 42; while the rear components 41, 48 of saidequalizer rods are similarly coupled at 49, 50 to the lower ends ofactuator levers 52. The actuator levers 5|, 52 are conveniently mountedon transverse rock shafts 53, 54 rotatively journaled in bearingelements 55, rigidly secured by fastening means 56 to-the outboard sidesof the main frame hereinbefore mentioned. In order to limit the angularmovement of the actuator levers 5|, 52, use is made of a compositecontrol quadrant 51 embodying spaced walls 58 and a separator piece 59,between which walls and separator piece the upper portions of saidactuator levers are normally located; or, during the time that thehopper doors 30 are closed. Rigid with'the control quadrant 51 areoverhanging rectangularly related fork hangers 60, 6| affordingsuspension for counter-balanced reversely active pivotal dogs 62, eachembodying a stop portion 63, see to best advantage in Fig. 6; said dogsbeing respectively coactive with the levers 5|, 52 for locking thelatter against accidental release. It will now be readily understoodthat in order to release the outer lever 52, for example, said levermust be pushed forwardly or clockwise by aid of its cranked portion 64,whereupon the associated dog 62 is manually rocked on its pivot 65 (withangular retraction of its stop portion 63 from abutment below the hanger6|) from the full line position of Fig. 6 to the dotand-dash location inthe same figure, when the lever 52 will be freed for counter-clockwisemovement until it contacts the movement-limiting end 66 of the quadrant51, with incidental swinging of the operatively coordinated foremostpair of doors 30 to the open position shown in Fig. 3. On the otherhand, when the inner actuator lever 5| is to be correspondingly movedrelative to the axis of the shaft 53 the same operations take place withthe exception that the associated dog 62 is turned counter-clockwise, onits pivot 67, to angularly swing the stop portion 63 thereof away fromabutment below the hanger 60. Obviously, on reverse movement of therespective actuator levers 5|, 52, to effect closure of the hopper doors30, the dogs 62 will be rocked by said levers, on the respective pivots65, 67, and

v automatically swing back into active locking position as clearlyunderstandable from Fig. 6.

Referring again to the bearing elements 36, for the respective doorsupporting links 32, it is to be particularly noted that the notch oropen ended bearing slot 35 is partially closed in by a stud pin 69having a reduced end 10 screwthreaded through a hole in the laterallydirected bracket 31, said bolt being secured against rotation by a locknut 1|. Thus it will be seen that the respective link studs 34 areprevented from accidental dislodgment, whereas a simple means isprovided for the ready release or removal of an individual door 30 whendesirable or expedient, as obvious to those conversant with the art. Inaddition it is to be further noted that laterally projecting anglepieces or relative motion limiting or abutment stops 12 are provided inthe region of the hinge connections 33 of the supporting links 32 to thedoor lugs 3|, where said lugs are above the doors 30. The stops 12, itwill be remarked, serve to maintain the links 32 and door lugs 3| insubstantial alignment while providing for slight oscillatory movement ofthe door 30 for a purpose later on herein again referred to. A rigidcollar 13 is also provided on each equalizer rod rear component 41, 48to positively ensure direct thrust of the respectively associated frontcomponents 44, 45 during movement to open the doors 30. A stop piece 15is applied in each fork-shaped end of the components 44, 45, adjacent tothe rockers 43, to prevent possible collapsing of said rockers in casethe doors operated by the levers 4| should develop greater openingresistance than the respectively coupled rearward door 30.

The operation of the improved hopper doors 30 will be obvious from theforegoing disclosure, but it is desired to emphasize the fact thatincidental to supporting said doors by the links 32 in the mannerdescribed with the axes of the fulcrum studs 34 substantiallystationary, and those of the hinge pins 33 being retained in relativependulous radial alignment therewith by means of the abutment stops 12,each door 30 is consprings 14 for reaction to effect an initial slightangular movement of the rocker members 43 sufiicient to release theforemost pair of doors 30 from sealing engagement with the hopper seats28 followed by circular progression of said doors along a pathconformatory with an arc struck from the axis of the link supportingstuds 34. The action just described clearly permits the hopper framesbeing located much lower relative to a railroad trackway, as it isquiteobvious that only just suificient clearance is needed for the definiteand direct pathway of travel for the doors 3B in close circularproximity to the hopper seats 28. On the other hand, as the doors 30approach closed position relative to the seats 28, a reverse action ofthe parts above explained results in a slight upward jamming movementbeing imparted to the doors with consequent sealing abutment thereofagainst said seats 28.

From the foregoing the merits and advantages of this invention will bethoroughly appreciated by those acquainted with the art, while it is tobe understood that the form herein disclosed is susceptible of detailchanges in adapting the same to different types of locomotive and otherfire boxes, without departing from the essentials and scope of thefollowing claims, or the sacrifice of any of the advantagesh'ereinbefore pointed out.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a locomotive fire box of an ash pan includingspaced hoppers, an outlet at the bottom of each hopper having a seatingsurface at opposite sides curved to an arc of a circle struck from acenter vertically above and medially within the confines of said hoppersides, a correspondingly curved door adapted to seat against saidoutlet, hinged suspension elements for the door having aligned pivotaxes planarly offset relative to the seating surface center of curvatureaforesaid and. also having hinge connections to said door, and means forclosing or opening the several doors along curved paths of movementeccentric to the seating surface curvatures.

2. The combination with a locomotive fire box of an ash pan includingspaced hoppers having substantially parallel side walls, an outlet atthe bottom of each hopper having a seating surface curved to an arc of acircle struck from a center vertically above and medially within theconfines of the respective hopper side walls aforesaid, a,correspondingly curved door adapted to seat against the hopper outlet,hinged suspension elements for the door having aligned pivot axeshorizontally offset relative to the seating surface center of curvatureaforesaid and also having hinge connections to said door, means normallyholding the suspension elements in radial alignment but permittinglimited oscillation of the door, means operative to close or open theseveral doors along individual eccentric paths of movement close to theoutlet seating surface curvatures, and means for imparting slight inwardradial movement to the door to effect sealing coaction thereof with theassociated seating surface, said means also serving to initiate openingof the door.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the ash pan side walls are madein two parts connected end to end, each said part having the upper edgeportion inwardly angled for attachment to the fire box, and said wallsare inwardly stepped in the region of the spaced hoppers.

, 4. The combination of claim 2, wherein each hopper outlet consists ofa rectangular frame embodying front and rear downwardly converging wallsand polygonally-contoured side walls, a bracket projects laterallyoutward from the upper portion of each hopper side wall with avertically notched portion paralleling said side wall, said notch beingopen at the upper end to afford pivotal support for the associatedhinged door suspension element, and means are carried by each bracketaforesaid to partly close the open end of the vertical notch.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein each hinged suspension elementcomprises a link with an upper fulcrum stud, a pin at the lower end ofsaid link, and an apertured log on the associated curved door havinghinge connection to said link pin, and reversely directed obtuse angledabutment stops projecting from the hopper side walls mutually coact withsuch hinge connection to retain the link substantially stationary whilepermitting the curved door to have a relatively slight hinge movement.

6. Th combination of claim 2, wherein the means effective to close oropen the several doors comprise equalizer rods with associated collarsand reactive means effective to impart positive thrust in one direction,said rods being operatively coupled at their forward ends to a pair ofconsecutive doors, a quadrant and actuator levers control reciprocationof said equalizer rods, and counter-weighted pivotal dogs carried by thequadrant coact with said actuator levers to lock them against accidentalmovement when the doors are closed.

'7. The combination of claim 1, in which the spaced hoppers extenddownwardly into close proximity to the minimum track clearance level,whereby the dumping capacity of the respective hoppers is substantiallyincreased.

ANDERS GUSTAF GUNNAR SALE-NIUS.

